Farewell from CEO Barry Sheridan

It’s with a mixture of pride and sadness that I’m writing to let you know that I will be leaving the Irish Men’s Sheds Association as CEO at the end of October.

After almost six years at the helm I believe that the time has now come for a fresh perspective and new ideas to bring the movement forward. While I’m sad I won’t be part of that journey  I am immensely proud of how far we’ve come during my tenure as CEO.

So much has been achieved over the past five years and I am so proud to have played a part in that. It has been my privilege to have worked alongside our dedicated staff, our funders and our hardworking board who have played a major role in all we’ve achieved. However, my deepest thanks must go to you, the Shedders. This has been a journey we’ve all taken together, and I couldn’t have asked for better companions along the way. From Antrim to Cork and Mayo to Dublin, you’ve welcomed me into your sheds and your communities. When I stepped into my first shed in 2015, I immediately realised this movement was going to change, and save, people’s lives. I still feel that today, more strongly than ever.

I will be leaving the role at the end of October, and the search for a new CEO has already been instigated. Rest assured, the standard of applicant will be incredibly high, thanks to the reputation that you have all, collectively, staked out for the men’s sheds movement. As for myself, I will look back on my five years with the IMSA as one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. In my time, I have watched the IMSA grow from two paid staff and a phoneline to a highly professional operation overseeing the largest concentration of men’s sheds in the world.

None of this would have happened with the selflessness and dedication of thousands of shedders and volunteers across the island. As I leave the role, I am thinking of you all, and especially of those we’ve lost along the way. It has been a privilege to be welcomed into your sheds, your movement and your lives, and I promise not to be a stranger in the years ahead